7 things I learnt from spending 1,000 hours offline
It started on my 33rd birthday. I realised I was too attached to my devices, and something needed to change — quickly. My constant connectivity and digital overload left me drained, making it impossible to truly switch off. Every attempt to disconnect failed, with me reaching for my phone just minutes later. In my mind, there was always something more to do, something else to check. My phone had become my lifeline.
On that birthday, I set a challenge for myself: to unplug from all devices for 1,000 hours over the course of a year. What started as an effort to reclaim time, ended up transforming my life. Disconnecting taught me how to be happier, cultivate inner peace, and rekindle my love for life. Now, thousands of unplugged hours later, here are some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way:
There’s a difference between checking in and checking out
“I’m just checking in,” I’d reassure myself whenever I reached for my phone. But when I started disconnecting, I had to confront the truth: I wasn’t checking in; I was checking out. This journey taught me to truly check in with myself during moments of stress, anxiety, or boredom. Instead of getting lost in endless scrolling, I used my offline hours to genuinely care for myself — by taking walks, practising mindfulness, or simply sitting outside in the sunshine.
Time is my most precious currency
Unplugging made me realise that time is the most valuable currency I possess. I can either waste it or invest it wisely in the people, projects and plans I cherish. The choice is mine — whether it’s bingeing on Netflix or an unplugged date with my husband. The more I unplug, the more my time expands and holds greater value.
Presence is a superpower
We all know what it feels like to sit opposite someone who isn’t present — they’re on their phone, in two places at once. Disconnecting has revealed to me just how powerful presence can be as a rarity in our overly connected world. Offering someone my full attention is a gift — an opportunity to make them feel less alone and more empowered.
Boundaries can inspire others
When I talk about my unplugged hours, it often sparks a strong reaction. Many of us desire to be more present but struggle to make it happen. While I’m mindful not to push my practices onto others, my habit of unplugging and setting digital boundaries has piqued curiosity. As a result, many friends have shared their own experiences with disconnecting from technology and how going offline has positively impacted their lives too.
The grass is greener where you water it
Before I started disconnecting from technology, I spent too much time comparing myself to others. Social media often left me feeling inadequate, convinced that everyone else’s life was better than mine. But as I became more present, I realised where my time truly needed to be invested — and it wasn’t on social media. Instead, I began focusing on my relationships, work, and passions. I had lost countless hours to comparison, but each unplugged moment became an opportunity to nurture my own life instead of envying the “greener” grasses of others.
Wonder can be reclaimed at any age
My pursuit of instant gratification had dulled my sense of wonder, which somehow slipped away unnoticed. But as I spent more time being present with my little girl, I began to see the world through her eyes, filled with wonder. I started noticing the richness of daily life that had been there all along. I cultivated more curiosity and gratitude, lived with more questions, and resisted the urge to know everything instantly. I allowed myself to be caught up in the beauty of not having all the answers.
It’s OK to just be
The first time I unplugged, I was struck by an uncomfortable question: “What do I do with my hands?” I had become so accustomed to constant activity that stillness felt foreign. But through disconnecting, I began to embrace simply “being”. I practised stillness, taking a few moments each day to do nothing at all. Those moments didn’t mean I was lazy or unproductive; they reminded me to just breathe and remember that I am more than the tasks I complete. My life is richer than just a checklist.